Regulation matters!

THE PANDEMIC changed a lot of things, in our personal and working lives. The Covid-19 Public Inquiry will identify the impact of the pandemic and the lessons we need to learn. It’s clear, though, one of issue is with us today and it poses a challenge to all who buy and use cleaning chemicals.  

During the pandemic demand for cleaning and hygiene products, in particular cleaning chemicals and hand sanitisers, soared. All sorts of companies with no, or at best tangential expertise, began to produce these products, making extraordinary and unjustifiable claims for their efficacy. We got used to moving at pace and accepting product claims with little or no interrogation. 

Today, the argument in the pandemic that there was little time for verification is playing out in the climate change arena, with some arguing technology is moving so fast there is no time for independent verification or regulation. Pause for a moment and let their argument sink in. The suggestion is that the need for some kind of environmentally sustainable solutions far outstrips the need to know if the solution is indeed environmentally sustainable, if it works or how to use it to be certain it is safe. These companies use gobble-de-gook or undefined phrases like ‘non-renewable chemicals’, ‘chemical-free’, ‘natural’ and ‘non-toxic’ to promote their products.

Regulations, however, matter. They guarantee safety. They underpin transparency and ensure consistency. They provide a framework for comparison, so a buyer really knows if they are getting the product or solution they need. They also provide accountability, giving buyers a route to recourse if needed.  In short, they underwrite an ethical approach. 

If you are buying cleaning chemicals our advice is always to look for independent verification and to make sure the supplier has the relevant regulatory approval. For example, the term ‘biodegradable’ as it is applied to cleaning products, is defined in current legislation (Detergent Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 and corresponding UK post Brexit legislation). Something claiming to be ‘organic’ should be certified by, for example, the Soil Association. ‘Net-zero’ claims should be based on the international net-zero standard (https://sciencebasedtargets.org/net-zero) or another reliable third party verified certification.

Every member of the CHSA has signed our rigorous Code of Practice, which demands our members trade ethically. Amongst other stipulations, it requires members to:

• conduct business dealings in an open, honest, fair and proper manner and in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations of the UK and EU.
• ensure all public statements made by and on behalf of the Member are decent, honest and truthful.
• ensure no false or exaggerated claims are made verbally, in literature, electronically or in any other way.
• hold and provide evidence on request for product and service claims, particularly with reference to legislation, certifications and accreditations.

Our Code of Practice also includes the Competition & Market’s Authority’s Green Claims Code. Its principles are summarised as:

• Claims must be truthful and accurate.
• Claims must be clear and unambiguous.
• Claims must not omit or hide important relevant information.
• Comparisons must be fair and meaningful.
• Claims must consider the full life cycle of the product or service.
• Claims must be substantiated.

Finally, every member of the CHSA’s Accreditation Scheme for manufacturers of cleaning chemicals has signed the CHSA’s own ethical marketing code.

Our advice to buyers of cleaning and hygiene chemicals is simple. 

• Be sceptical. If a claim sounds too good to be true, it probably is
• Ask for supporting evidence. Reputable companies will be willing and able to provide data sheets, reports, certificates or other evidence to support the claims
• Buy from a reputable supplier with a track record 
• Specify CHSA Accreditation. Our standards, your guarantee.

Lorcan Mekitarian is chair of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association

For more information visit​ www.CHSA.co.uk